T-Mobile rolls out unlimited (but throttled) data plans

Customers of T-Mobile can get their hands on some hot new plans the carrier has just made official, allowing for some (mostly) unlimited data service on smartphones.

Engadget has the story, which states that T-Mobile is offering two new plan versions that carry unlimited data, and go as low as $60 a month. “Even More” customers -- those that buy a subsidized device with a T-Mobile contract -- get the $79.99 plan, while “Even More Plus” users -- those that brought their own phone when they joined T-Mobile -- get it for $59.99. There’s also a $5 surcharge if you use a BlackBerry.

The plan allows for unlimited domestic calling and text messaging, and unlimited data. But that really only goes to the 2GB per month mark. After that, T-Mobile says “data speeds will be reduced for the remainder of that bill cycle.” Your data is unlimited, but if you’re a power-user who’s slowing up the network with all your traffic, T-Mobile reserves the right to reign you in.

Still, it’s nice to see a mobile carrier offering unlimited data plans at all. Sprint (S) still offers its “Simply Everything” plan for $99.99 a month, but AT&T (T) has all but eliminated its unlimited data plan, and rumor has it, Verizon’s (VZ) unlimited data offering is not long for this world either.

If you’re interested in stepping into a T-Mobile unlimited plan, though, the time is now. According to a press release with Engadget’s story, the plans are available for a limited time only (probably to see if customers actually even want unlimited plans).

HTC says G2 will get Gingerbread -- but not when

More good news for T-Mobile customers: the HTC (2498.TW) G2 smartphone is in line to get an upgrade to Google’s (GOOG) Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It’s confirmed -- the update is coming. It’s just a matter of when.

HTC is generally pretty good about getting out their Android updates, and some customers don’t mind waiting too much, according to informal polling by Engadget. Even so, having to wait for those Android updates can be a real bummer for many, especially since I’ve heard that Gingerbread is a nice step forward. And such a long wait could mean the even newer Gingerbread variation, Android 2.4, could be the upgrade that the G2 sees.

While you wait to find out, maybe go get set up with one of those unlimited data plans.